Server Overview

By Marketing Department

Created Jan 4 2011 - 07:42

04 January, 2011

Digi-CA™ Server Overview

The principal difference between Xs, Xp and Xg in each case relates to the degree of integration and customisation required. For example, Digi-CA™ Server Xs can be pre-configured and delivered to the customer for installation without any assistance from Digi-Sign whilst Digi-CA™ Server Xg projects can run for several days or a few weeks.

Important Note:If you have technical personnel that can correctly configure a network environment, install the necessary operating systems and provide secure access to the server(s), the Digi-CAST2™ installations Team may be able to conduct a large part of the installation process prior to visiting your site. In some cases, the complete installation can occur without the need for Digi-CAST2™ to visit your site at all.

Digi-CA™ Server Xs

Digi-CA™ Server Xs is CA Software for installation on a single server and comes complete with all the different sub-systems designed to run and operate efficiently on that single machine (see Appendix II).

As a software product, Digi-CA™ Server Xs only generates client certificates that can be used for email, two-factor authentication, secure web access, as electronic signatures, for use within a Virtual Private Networks [VPN] or for device-to-device authentication. Like all professional CA systems it allows the Administrator to set up policies and to manage all of the certificate life cycle services.

Even with all of the powerful functionality and capabilities that Digi-CA™ Server Xs offers, it is easy to install, configure and operate. A competent Network Engineer or qualified IT Technician could install a fully functional version of Digi-CA™ Server Xs and be fully competent in its operation within three days or less.

Digi-CA™ Server Xs can only be installed on a single Pentium® server and is typically used where high availability is not a key component of the environment. As a single server installation, there is no mirroring or synchronising of data. All records and data are protected by periodic backups only. Typical installations would be small to medium environments where high system availability is not an issue.

Digi-CA™ Server Xp

Digi-CA™ Server Xp is CA Software for installation on two servers and offers the same services as Digi-CA™ Server Xs but on a larger scale and with many additional services including certificate deployment and renewal automation (see Appendix II). The primary reason for selecting Xp instead of Xs is because Digi-CA™ Server Xp offers fail-over functionality.

The Digi-CA™ Server Xp installation must be carried out by Digi-CAST2™ professional services. This installation may require the Digi-CAST™ Team to physically conduct the installation on site, however, if a competent Network Engineer can provide a reliable connection to the correctly configured servers, then it may be possible to conduct the installation over the internet, without incurring travel and accommodation costs. The fully functional version of Digi-CA™ Server Xp can be completed in seven days or less.

Digi-CA™ Server Xp is installed on two Pentium® servers and is typically used where high availability is a component of the environment. As a dual server installation, there is mirroring and synchronising of data. All records and data are protected by this fail-over service. The Digi-CA™ Server Xp is split over two servers and gives the option to include a firewall in between. Typical installations would be large enterprise or government environments.

Digi-CA™ Server Xg

Digi-CA™ Server Xg is the CA for commercial Trust Centres. The services can be split over as many as 16 servers but a typical installation would use four servers and a single Hardware Security Module [HSM]. This CA has four levels of security including two or three levels of firewalls with fail over facilities and can incorporate hot standby, disaster recovery and a single system can operate from multiple locations.

The Digi-CA™ Server Xg installation must be carried out by Digi-CAST2™ professional services and requires the Team to physically conduct the installation on site with the associated travel and accommodation costs. Once configured, the fully functional version of Digi-CA™ Server Xg can be completed in ten days or less.

Digi-CA™ Server Xg is used where high availability and reliability are a key component of the environment. As a multi-server installation, there is mirroring and synchronising of data. All records and data are protected by this fail-over service. The Digi-CA™ Server Xg separates the CA services so that seven layers of security can be applied to the Trust Centre environment. The CA services are located in the certificate Engine core with the RA, certificate Revocation List [CRL], Light Directory Access Protocol [LDAP] and Time Stamping services located in the Outer Core (see Appendix II). Typical installations are government and commercial CA Trust Centres.

Digi-CA™ Shared Notes

Digi-CA™ Shared is where you actually purchase the Digi-CA™ Server software but we host it for you. This is particularly of use to organisations that know their long-term requirement is for Software CA but their immediate personnel and technical resources are insufficient to meet their needs.

The Digi-CA™ Server is configured, integrated and designed to meet your future environment and Digi-Sign hosts the software on a dedicated platform for you. As soon as your resources are at the appropriate levels, we migrate the entire system (without service interruption) to your site.